IPS Fellow Phyllis Bennis directs the New Internationalism Project at IPS, focusing on the Middle East, U.S. militarism, and UN issues. She is also a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.

In 2001 she helped found the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights and more recently spent six years on the board of Jewish Voice for Peace, where she now serves as its International Adviser. She works with many anti-war and Palestinian rights organizations, writing and speaking widely across the U.S. and around the world. She has served as an informal adviser to several top UN officials on Middle East issues and was twice short-listed to become the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Phyllis has written and edited 11 books. Among her latest is the 7th updated edition of her popular Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, published in 2018. She is also the author of Before & After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the War on Terror and Challenging Empire.

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Latest

Iraq: Sectarian tensions or wider discontent?

Phyllis Bennis discusses civil society movements in Iraq challenging the U.S.-backed sectarian government system.

Challenging Einstein: Kerry’s ‘New’ Diplomacy in the Middle East

The United States must oppose the occupation and settlements, and support a Palestinian right to freedom, equality and statehood.

President Obama Goes To Israel…and What Happens, Exactly?

Israel visit elicits beautiful talk, but talk is cheap.

Way Worse Than a Dumb War: Iraq Ten Years Later

The U.S. war in Iraq may be over, but we owe an apology to all those who suffered from the war.

Way Worse Than a Dumb War: Iraq Ten Years Later

It didn’t take long for the world to recognize that the US invasion and occupation of Iraq constituted a “dumb war.” But dumb wasn’t the half of it.

Cutting the Military Budget, 2013 Anniversaries, Palestinian Prisoners

The New Internationalism newsletter on sequestration and military budget, an uprising in Palestinian, and 2013 anniversaries.

February 15, 2003. The Day the World Said No to War.

Our movement changed history. While we did not prevent the Iraq war, the protests proved its clear illegality, demonstrated the isolation of the Bush administration policies, helped prevent war in Iran, and inspired a generation of activists.

Obama Could Go it Alone, Bring All the Troops Home, and Stop the Killing

Focusing on the executive actions you can take without Congress is a great idea, Mr. President.

Pathway to Progress in Israel Runs through International Law, Local and Global Action

While Israel moved away from the far right in last month’s elections, the new coalition is unlikely to alter the occupation.

Look to Diplomacy, Not War

We need a whole new kind of foreign policy based on diplomacy rather than war.

It’s a New Year, But Old Wars and Occupations Continue

The New Internationalism newsletter on the countdown to the afghan “draw-down,” an update on Palestinian struggles , and Phyllis’ upcoming road trip.

Human Rights Watch: Time to Stand with Human Rights Defenders

It is disappointing to see HRW’s unwillingness to stand with those who are working to promote and defend human rights.

Is Hagel’s Appointment of Any Actual Use to the Anti-War Left?

It may be a launching pad to push much farther to end our wars, close military bases, and cut Pentagon funding.

Will Chuck Hagel’s Appointment Actually Help the Anti-War Left?

Obama’s Pentagon-chief nomination signals that the White House isn’t looking to move towards a military attack on Iran any time soon.

VIDEO: Does Floating Hagel Balloon Show Obama’s Posture Towards Iran?

Hagel has been a “realist” towards Iran which infuriates Neo-cons and AIPAC, but will Obama fight for him?

We’re Not Broke

This commonsense guide to avoiding the fiscal swindle would nearly eliminate the budget deficit while making the United States more equitable, green, and secure.

The Gaza Ceasefire Holds: A Little Bit to Be Thankful For

In this edition of the New Internationalism newsletter, we break down the ceasefire in the Middle East and what it means for the region moving forward.

Phyllis Bennis on RT: Israel, violence in Gaza, and ending the Israeli occupation

“Longer term, if we don’t understand this in the context of occupation, we’re never going to end this cycle,” Bennis says.

Israel Ups the Stakes With Assassination of Jaabari

Ahmad Jaabari negotiated the ceasefire that had mostly held over much of the last year.

Israel Escalates Gaza Attack with an Assassination

The assassination of Hamas leader, Ahmad Jaabari, is primarily about Netanyanu shoring up the right-wing of his base before he faces reelection in January.

Program Director

New Internationalism

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anti-war movements, International Law, Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Israel-Palestine, Middle East, military budget, Refugees, sanctuary movement, Saudi Arabia, Syria, terrorism, Torture, U.S. foreign policy, U.S. wars, United Nations, War on Terror, Yemen

Talkies

KPFA | May 3, 2024

Phyllis Bennis joins Tavis Smiley

The Tavis Smiley Show | April 14, 2024

Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

CounterSpin, FAIR | March 29, 2024

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